LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1983, Page 235

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STRUCTURE AND CONSTITUTION 235

5-85

To Welcome Rev. Herman Otten
into the LCMS Ministerium

WHEREAS, “The Herman Otten” case has dragged on and on
far too long; and

WHEREAS, Many, many overtures have been offered over the
years to bring this matter to its fair and honorable conclusion;
and

WHEREAS, Another eight years have gone by without a fair
and honorable resolution to this case; and
WHEREAS, The treatment—or lack of it—that Rev. Herman

Otten has received from the Synod has come to be seen by
many as a national disgrace; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod in convention accept Rev.
Herman Otten’s expression of repentance for procedural error;
commend him for his long and faithful witness of loyalty to the
official doctrinal position of the Synod; and if in fact he is not
on the LCMS clergy role by the time of the 1983 convention,
welcome Rev. Herman Otten into the ministerium of the
LCMS.

St. Thomas Lutheran Church
Rocky River, Ohio

Richard Dorow, President
Kenneth Mayer, Secretary

5-86

To Continue Commission on Black Ministry
as Stipulated in 1981 Handbook

WHEREAS, The Commission on Black Ministry, in its efforts
to plan, coordinate, and expand Black ministry in the Synod
has made outstanding contributions to the growth of Black
ministry; and

WHEREAS, The people involved have a right to choose
representatives responsive to their needs; and

WHEREAS, Under the recommendations of Task Force II the
Standing Committee on Black Ministry would be appointed by
the Board for Mission Services without any accountability to
the people in Black ministry; and

WHEREAS, Under the recommendation of Task Force II the
Black Ministry Convocations would have no rights or responsi-
bilities to select their representatives or establish program
priorities for the commission; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Southern District oppose this represen-
tation without approval; and be it further

Resolved, That the Southern District petition the synodical
convention of 1983 to continue the Commission on Black
Ministry.

Southern District
Richard E. Kuehnert, Jr.. Secretary

To Incorporate All References
to Christian Education as Found
in 1979 Handbook into 1983 Handbook

WHEREAS, The LCMS in the 1981 synodical convention
adopted a new organizational structure; and

WHEREAS, The 1981 Handbook of the LCMS was revised to
conform to the new structure; and

WHEREAS, In the revision of the 1979 Handbook important
paragraphs that pertained to Christian education were deleted,
namely 7.01, 7.02. 7.03, 7.05, 7.07, 7.08, 7.09, 7.10, 7.25, 7.41, 7.43,
7.48, 7.51, 7.53:

7.01 Christian Education in the Program
of the Church

One of the basic tasks of the church is to edify the
body of Christ. This work of Christian education is a

ministry of Christ’s members to Christ’s members in
Christ’s name. Only through the use of God’s Word
can the growth processes described in Ephesians
4:12-13 be achieved: the “equipping of the saints,” the
“building up of the body of Christ,” growth in the
“unity of the faith,” growth in “knowledge of the Son
of God,” growth toward “mature manhood,” and
growth “to the measure of the stature of the fullness
of Christ.” The Spirit of God works through the Word
of God to nurture Christian growth in faith, in
knowledge, in attitude, in conduct, and in the skills of
discipleship.

The Synod urges that every congregation recog-
nize that the process of making disciples for Christ is
a lifelong process:

a. It begins in the concern of the church for the
newly baptized infant.

b. It continues through childhood, youth, and
adulthood.

c. Itdepends on the role of the Christian home as a
Christian school for its members.

d. It involves all informal as well as formal
educational programs of the church for all age levels
particularly in the local parish.

7.02 Christian Education a Shared
Responsibility

Christian education is a responsibility of both the
home and the church. To parents the words of Ephe-
sians 6:4 and Deuteronomy 6:6-7 point up the necess-
ity of bringing up the children in the discipline and
instruction of the Lord and of teaching God’s Word
diligently.

To the church the words of Matthew 28:19-20; 2
Peter 3:18; Ephesians 4:16; and 2 Timothy 3:17 become
the directive to make disciples for Christ, help the
individual grow unto the stature of Christ, and to help
equip the individual for every good work.

Since both home and church must do their full
duty, each in its own sphere and both in cooperation
with each other, the Synod urges—

a. that every congregation in the Synod providea
program of Christian family life education;

b. that every congregation in the Synod be mind-
ful of its great responsibility to provide an effective
program of Christian education for all age levels. God
has clearly set forth His will regarding Christian
education, but He has not identified the specific
agencies we are to use. Full-time Christian schools
are the ideal at all grade levels, for they aim at
developing a Christian world view and provide for
the continuous nurture of Christian faith and life.
Where full-time schools are not possible, the congre-
gation must bend every effort to achieve the maxi-
mum development of the part-time agencies.

7.03 Instruction for Confirmation

In harmony with the best traditions of the Luther-
an Church, every pastor of the Synod shall regard the
careful and conscientious instruction of catechumens
preparatory for confirmation as one of the primary
duties of his ministry. This duty must be regarded as
particularly urgent when the catechumen has had no
religious training or Christian background.

7.05 Lutheran Elementary and Secondary
Schools

The most effective educational agencies available
to the church for equipping God’s people for ministry
are the full-time Lutheran elementary and secondary
schools. The Synod therefore urges—

a. that congregations of the Synod establish
elementary and secondary schools wherever possible,
either singly or in conjunction with other congre-
gations:

b. that elementary and secondary schools be